Baseball is a beautiful game. There is something about sitting at a ball park on a summer night watching baseball that screams perfection. Whether it’s the crack of a bat, the pop of a catcher’s mit, even the sounds of the game are so easy to love. It is a game that players love to play and this year’s Miners team is no exception. They quickly bought into the “aggressive” style of play Mike Pinto wanted this season and it has proved to pay off. Any coach in any sport would agree that knowing your role and playing it well is important. It is relieving to know that there are men on this team that can play multiple roles and play them well. Last week I watched Trey Manz, who is primarily used as a designated hitter, play right field and pitch three scoreless innings in a 17 inning circus against Washington. Trey has not stepped on the rubber in about five years, but when called upon, he delivered in a very big way. There were several players who came up with big hits late in the game to keep the Miners in it and once again, Will Block got a clutch walk off hit to end the game. This was also a game that saw pitcher Ryan Quigley catch two monster fly balls in right field and almost get the game winning knock only after a stellar pitching outing. However, this blog is not about stats, game recaps, or what the Miners could be doing differently. This is about watching young men who love this game in the purest form. It is about watching a group of guys who just really want to win baseball games, are winning baseball games, and having a good time doing it. If you have not been out to Rent One Park to see this for yourself then you are missing out. Over the last several summers this team has breathed new life into this community. It is time we take pride in our community and in this team and start giving them the support to fuel their fire. I love Rent One Park. I love it even more when there are 5,000 screaming fans there with me. Mike Pinto, Ralph Santana and the Miners front office have done their job bringing us great events and players who can deliver and now it is our turn to pay it forward.
Right now the Miners have the best record in the Frontier League at 12-4 which includes winning 8 of their last 10 games. They have a veteran outfield in Eric Suttle, Jereme Milons, and Justin Randall who just really want to win a championship wearing Miners black and gold. There is the big man on first, Matt Fields who could probably knock a ‘Splash Zone’ homerun with one hand. He’s played ball with guys like Evan Longoria and he has a personality bigger than he is. At 6’5 you can imagine that he is fun to watch. The middle infield belongs to the men with the speed and quick hands, Will Block and Kenji Sakaguchi. Watching them turn double plays is entertaining and they can both come through in clutch situations offensively. It is nice to have a guy like Nate Hall on your team. The all-star third baseman is a brick wall and can hit for extra bases at the drop of a hat. Nate is a guy you can count on and makes his fair share of highlight reel plays. Then there is the catcher, Sean Coughlin. His even keeled demeanor and leadership have proven to be the steady hand guiding this ship. He has a ridiculous knowledge of the game at every level and I imagine if we were playing hockey, he would be the guy with a ‘C’on his chest. The pitching staff boasts a mixture of personalities, throwing styles, lefties and righties. Justin Lord has guys he can go to in a variety of situations and it is always nice to have starters like Brendon Malkowski who can go 7-8 innings an outing and relievers like Cory Cowsert who has just been lights out this season. It is also a good sign when your mohawked closer has the attitude and focus to strike out the side and grab 5 saves in as many tries like Erik Draxton has.
Basically, I’m challenging you. All of you. I have told you about some of the players, but you need to see it for yourself. These guys are everything you always loved about the game. There is something special about this team and I encourage you to come to Rent One Park and be a part of it. Don’t take my word for it. Come out and dig the excitement for yourself.
By Ashley Foxx
